The Bible describes God as utterly holy, set apart from all sin and unlike anyone else. In heaven the living creatures cry day and night, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come" (Revelation 4:8), and Hannah prayed, "There is none holy as the LORD" (1 Samuel 2:2). Amazingly, this holy God makes people holy: "we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Hebrews 10:10).
Of all the things the Bible says about God, holiness may be the hardest to put into words. The Hebrew word for holy carries the idea of being set apart: different, pure, in a category of His own. God's holiness is His perfect moral purity, but it is also His overwhelming greatness and otherness. It is why Moses took off his shoes and why Isaiah cried, Woe is me. It is also, surprisingly, why God is merciful, because His holiness is not cold perfection but pure, faithful love. These twelve King James verses show the holiness of God as heaven worships it, what happens when people come face to face with it, and how a holy God draws sinners close and makes them holy too. For related themes, see the glory of God, the fear of the Lord and the Hebrew names of God.
Holy, holy, holy: who God is
1. Revelation 4:8
"And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come."
John was given a glimpse into God's throne room, where heavenly creatures rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty. The threefold repetition echoes Isaiah's vision (Isaiah 6:3). In Hebrew, repeating a word is a way of saying something is supremely true, and holiness is the only attribute of God repeated three times like this. Reginald Heber's hymn Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty takes its words from this verse.
2. 1 Samuel 2:2
"There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God."
Hannah prayed this after God answered her prayer for a son. Her song begins with God's holiness: There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee. Holiness means God is in a class by Himself. No one else is like Him, and no one compares. Notice that Hannah's first response to answered prayer was not to talk about her gift but about the Giver. Holiness is at the heart of worship.
3. Exodus 15:11
"Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?"
After crossing the Red Sea, Moses sang, who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? This is the first time the Bible describes God as glorious in holiness. His holiness was not an abstract idea to Israel; they had just watched it in action as He rescued them. God's holiness shows up in His saving power. The same God who is utterly pure is the God who fights for His people.
4. Isaiah 40:25
"To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One."
To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Isaiah had just mocked idols made by craftsmen (Isaiah 40:19-20), and here God asks who could possibly compare with Him. Isaiah calls God the Holy One or the Holy One of Israel about thirty times. Every image we make of God, whether carved or imagined, falls short. Holiness means God is always greater than our thoughts about Him.
Standing on holy ground
5. Exodus 3:5
"And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground."
When Moses turned aside to see the burning bush, God said, put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. The ground was ordinary desert. What made it holy was God's presence. Taking off his shoes was an act of humility and reverence. Joshua heard the same command years later (Joshua 5:15). Wherever God meets us, even in an ordinary place, becomes holy ground.
6. Isaiah 6:5
"Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."
When Isaiah saw the Lord on His throne and heard the seraphim cry Holy, his response was not excitement but alarm: Woe is me! for I am undone. In the light of God's holiness, Isaiah suddenly saw his own sin clearly. This is what happens whenever people truly meet God. But the story does not end there: God sent a coal from the altar, took away Isaiah's sin, and then sent him out (Isaiah 6:7-8).
7. Habakkuk 1:13
"Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?"
Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity. Habakkuk was confused: if God is so holy, why does He allow evil people to succeed? The prophet brought his question honestly to God. God's holiness means He hates evil far more than we do. It also means evil will not have the last word. Habakkuk's book ends in trust: "I will joy in the God of my salvation" (Habakkuk 3:18).
8. Psalms 99:9
"Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy."
Psalm 99 repeats the theme of holiness three times, almost like a chorus: for it is holy (Psalm 99:3), for he is holy (Psalm 99:5), and here, for the LORD our God is holy. Like the threefold Holy in Isaiah and Revelation, the repetition invites us to worship. The response to God's holiness is not to hide but to Exalt the LORD our God, and worship.
Holy love: a holy God who makes us holy
9. Hosea 11:9
"I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city."
This may be the most surprising verse about holiness in the Bible. God's people had betrayed Him again and again, and He had every right to destroy them. Instead He says, I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger... for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee. His holiness is the reason He shows mercy. God's holiness is not only purity that judges; it is love that refuses to give up.
10. 1 Peter 1:15-16
"But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."
as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation. In old English, conversation means way of life. Peter quotes God's words from Leviticus, "Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy" (Leviticus 19:2). Holiness is not just for priests or super-saints. It is God's calling for every believer, a life set apart for Him in ordinary things: words, money, relationships and choices.
11. Hebrews 10:10
"By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
How can sinful people ever be holy? This verse answers: we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. To be sanctified is to be made holy. It does not depend on our effort; it was accomplished by Jesus on the cross, once for all. Christians are already holy in God's sight because of Christ, and they are growing in holiness day by day as He works in them.
12. Hebrews 12:10
"For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness."
Hebrews compares God to a loving father who disciplines his children. Earthly fathers do their best for a short time, but God disciplines us for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Hard seasons are not signs that God has abandoned us. He uses them to make us more like Him. The goal of every trial is that we would share in His own holiness, which is the deepest kind of joy.
A short prayer
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, there is none like You. I take off my shoes before You; I am undone in Your presence. Thank You that Your holiness is also mercy, that You are the Holy One in the midst of us and do not give up on us. Thank You that Jesus has made me holy once for all. Shape my words, my choices and my whole way of life to reflect You, and use every hard season to make me more like You. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
Study God's character slowly with the SOAP Bible Study Journal · Print our free Names of God printable · Memorize verses on God's holiness with the Scripture Memory Cards
Frequently asked questions
What does the holiness of God mean?
God's holiness means He is set apart, utterly pure and completely unlike anyone else. It includes His moral perfection (Habakkuk 1:13) and His majestic otherness (Isaiah 40:25). Holiness is also the reason God is faithful and merciful (Hosea 11:9). Isaiah heard the seraphim cry, "Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory" (Isaiah 6:3).
Why do angels say holy three times?
In Isaiah 6:3 and Revelation 4:8, the heavenly beings repeat holy three times. In Hebrew, repetition expresses intensity, so the threefold Holy means supremely, infinitely holy. Many Christians also see a hint of the Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in the threefold praise. See Bible verses about the Trinity.
How can I be holy if God is so holy?
Holiness starts with what Jesus has done, not what we do: we are made holy through His sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10). Then God calls us to grow in holiness, "be ye holy" (1 Peter 1:16), by His Spirit, through His Word, prayer and obedience. "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). See Bible verses about righteousness.
What is the difference between God's holiness and His glory?
Holiness describes who God is in Himself: pure, set apart and perfect. Glory is the shining out of that holiness, the visible weight and beauty of His presence. Isaiah 6:3 holds them together: God is holy, and the whole earth is full of His glory. When God's holiness is revealed, people see His glory. See Bible verses about the glory of God.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: The glory of God · Fear of the Lord · Righteousness · Worship · The Trinity · Goodness of God · Faithfulness of God · Grace · Bible verses about the Holy Spirit · Bible verses about I AM
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